TMC No. 12 - Staying Active

EDITORS NOTE:

I don’t know about you, but the month of December moved quickly in my house! Before I jump in today, I want to wish you a Happy New Year’s Eve 2023, and all the best as we enter 2024. Reach out if you need support! I’m honored to be on this journey with you. My ask in return, please share with your link below to help me grow our readership in the new year.

Best wishes for 2024.

VaNessa

Importance of Staying Active

We hear it all the time, and I’m sure I could quote some studies for you that say the same:, but I won’t. Keeping your mind and body as active as possible into your elder years is vital to a long and healthy life.

I share this reminder not only for your loved ones, but for each of you. Part of your self care is not forgetting about yourself during the caregiving process.

This month I witnessed a wide variety of instances that reminded me how important it is to keep our loved ones moving and thinking. I won’t get into all of the stories today…but let’s just say, caregiving is not easy, even in the best of circumstances. And when there are physical or mental cognition challenges, that’s when you need all the support you can get.

With my own dad, when winter comes he wants to slow down and hibernate. That’s when we have to be a bit more encouraging to help him keep moving. And with less desire to go to his activities, we also need to remember to be the one who engages with him more to keep his mind active. Fortunately, we have great friends that visit and love to talk with dad too. Activity and conversation are critical. And if activity is limited, there’s always room for conversation.

Isolation is one of the greatest ways to quickly decline in your elder years.

After a certain again, you don’t have the energy or desire to do certain things unless you are given a reason to or have an inner drive or are pushed by family.

Two weeks ago hubby and I were in Florida for a few days. On our way back to the airport we met a wonderful Lyft driver for our early morning ride.

He told us he was 86 years old and that he’d been driving for Uber/Lyft for 9 years with over 16,000+ rides in that time. He and his wife are enjoying their “golden years” of retirement and life was good. He told us he had longevity on his side as his dad lived to just shy of his 100th birthday. He was so cool.

I thought - man oh man - I want to be vibrant like him when I’m 86.

He was a great example of inner drive and staying active.

And with that thought, I’m going to put together some resources to share that help with the “muscles” for both body and mind. For today, remember that winter and the cold dark days can be some of the most challenging for activity. It’s time to get creative and make your own fun.